Ruffling and shirring attachment for sewing-machines



(No Model.) v .2 sheets-sheen 1.

n W. DUDLDEIY.` EUEELING ANDSEIEEING ATTACHMENT EOE SEWING MACHINES.

N0.295,4a9. A Patented MAA-18,1884. A

QAf-N y 1N TNVENTOE: M?.

' ATTORNEYS..

(No Model.) l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. DUDLEY. RUPFLINGAND SHIERING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES.

N0.2Q5,489.' Patented Mar.18,1884.

WITNBSSES:

^ /QJM/ M@ n I /Q E BY ATTORNEYS. A

W NITE STATES Fries.'

PATENT RUFFLING AND SHIRRINGATTACHMENT FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,429, dated March 18, 1884.

Application led May 3, 1883. (No model.)

-New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Buflling and Shirring Attachment for `Sewing-lvlachines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. j

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved' device of simple construction for overlapping or folding cloth or fabric to facilitate making4 rufliing and shirring.

The invention consists in a rui-fling and shirring` attachment for sewingmachines, as hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of one side of my improved ruffling andshirring attachment. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevation of the other side. Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe same. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal elevation of a modification of the same. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the saidmodification. Fig. 6 is aplan view of the protector-plate whichis placed on the `feed`plate of the machine. Fig. 7 is ,a

perspective view of the separator-plate and ruiiling mechanism in working position on the bed-plate of a sewing-machine- Y To the upper end of the presser-foot A, which is of the usual construction, and is held in place in the usual manner, a horizontal guide-frame, B, is fastened'on one side, which guide frame is provided with dovetailed grooves, in which a bar, C, slides, which is adapted to reciprocate horizontally. To that end of the bar C corresponding to the free end of the presser-foot A a downwardly-projecting arm, D, is held vertically adjustable by a screw, D', passing through a vertical slot, D2, Fig. 3, in the arm D. The said arm is provided at its lowerend with an arm, E, to the free end of which a horizontal spring-finger, F, is attached, the free end of which is serrated and is bent downward slightly. A pintle, G, projects laterally from the frame B, or

from the upper end of the presser-foot, and on the same a plate, H, is pivoted to rock, which plate is provided with a fork, J, adapted to surround a pintle or roller on the vertical reciprocating needle-bar of the machine, whereby the movement of the needle-bar can rock the said plate H. On that end of the slidin bar C opposite the one provided with the bar D a pintle, K, is fastened to project laterally, and to the outer end of the said pintlela connecting-bar, L, is `pivoted, which is provided at its free endwith a pintle, M, which passes through a curved slot, N, in the lower part of the plate H. A plate, O, is held on the inner side of the plateHby means of athumbscrew,` l?, passing through a slot, Q, in the plate H. The plate O is of such l-length that its lower end can cross the slot N.4 By means ofthe winged nut l? the plateO can be lockedin the desired position, and can be adj usted a greater or less lengthV from that end of the slot Q toward-the fork J, whereby the size of the slot4 N will be increased or decreased accordingly. In the modication shown in Figs. 4 and the plate L is pivoted to the same end of the sliding bar C to which the arm D is fastened, and the fork J of the plate H is inclined from that end of the bar C provided with the arm D toward the needle-bar, `whereas in the oonstruction shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3` the fork J is inclined from that end of the bar C opposite the one provided with the arm D` toward the needle-bar, as is clearly shown. Otherwise the arrangement and construction of the parts are quite similar.

The operation is as follows: In a four-motion or drop-feed sewing-machine, when the needle is moved to its full height, the feed is also at its full height above the surface of the sewing-plate, and when the needle begins to descend the feed drops below the surface of the plate, so that when the needle has entered the goods the feed will be below the plate. As the needle passes through the goods the nger F is moved inthe direction of the arrow a and carries the ruffle up to the needle, which it cannot pass. When one ruffle is formed, the needle moves upward, thereby `moving the finger in the reverse direction ofthe arrow a.

When the needle descends, another ruffle is made, and so on. The bar C, to which the nger F is attached, does not rock or swing, but reciprocates horizontally, and thus the 1inger F will always exert the same pressure on IOO the fabric onthe bed-plate, and will not grasp the fabric and-carry it forward by a swinging or rocking motion, but the. motion is always straight and reciprocating. A much neater fold 0r plait can be formed if the spring-finger reciprocates than if it rocks or swings. By means of the plate O the length of the slot N can be regulated, and thus the length of the stroke of the bar B can be regulated as may be desired-that is, according to the size of thel folds or plaits to be formed.

In the device shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the fork J of the plate H is also carried upward when the needle rises, and its connecting-bar L moves the rod C in the direction of the arrow a', and the spring-finger F forms a fold. Vhen the needle-bar descends, the finger F is moved in the reverse direction of the arrow a to get a grip on a fresh fold, and so on. In this case a fold is formed when the needle is raised, whereas with adevice constructed as described above the fold is formed when the needle is lowered. Otherwise the operation ofthe device is the same, the spring nger reciprocating horizontally7 as described above. As the feeder of the machine is under the foot A when the needle rises, the serrated end ofthe springnger F will come in contact with the said yfeeding device and will be apt to injure the same.

For this reason a guard-plate, S, is

that it will be interposed between the feeder and the spring-linger F, and will thus protect the finger from being injured by the said Spring-finger.

The above-described attachment is to be used in case rufes, gatherings, and shirrings are to be made.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In arufiiing-machine,the combination, with the frame B, of the sliding bar C, the arm D, provided with a slot, D2, the screw D', the ruffling-blade F, and device for reciprocating the bar C, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a rufliing attachment to a sewing-machine, the conibination,with the grooved frame B, horizontally-reciprocating bar C, sliding in said frame, and provided with a pintle, K, to the outer end of which the bar L, provided with a' pintle, M, is pivoted, slotted arm D, screw D, and ruffiing-blade F, of the rocking plate H, forked at J, to surround a pintle on the needle-bar, and provided with the slots N Q and adjustable plate O, substantially as Witnesses:

OSCAR F. GUNZ, C. SEDGwIcK. 

